"T.O.’s lawsuit a bit odd for me" - Demopolistimes.com

[DallasEast]

Disclaimer: The following author criticizes Owens. Reader discretion is advised.

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T.O.’s lawsuit a bit odd for me

(Updated: Tuesday, July 3, 2007 11:14 PM CDT)


I have always thought of Terrell Owens as a shameless self-promoter. Yes, he is an exceptional football player, I won’t deny that, but it seems to me that his off-field antics, and on-field antics for that matter, over shadow what could otherwise be viewed as an exceptional career.

Whether he is moaning and complaining about a teammate (see Donovan McNabb) who is overshadowing him or a personality conflict with a coach (see Bill Parcel), Owens always seems to find the negative in any situation. Then of course you have his on field performance, which I respect as long as he is between the endzones. But his need to grab the spotlight by performing silly and over the top endzone dances seems like a childlike cry for attention… Perhaps it is all a deep-rooted, psychological need to be the center of the spotlight now that I think about it.

Anyhow, imagine my surprise when I turned on Sports Center this morning and found that Owens has sued a Manhattan nightclub, the Avalon, for using his name and photo without his permission. At first glance I was surprised that the self promoter was upset that his likeness was being used to promote anything — I mean the man’s “official” Web site is reminiscent of a refrigerator of self promoting clippings with his scene from the MTV show ‘Punk’d’ and the controversial commercial for Monday Night Football with him and Nicole Sheridan — and then I began to think.

Perhaps Owens’ uncharacteristic cry against having his face in the public is, in fact, a way to stick his face even further into the public. I mean this is a guy who on his own Web site has a rap he made expounding on his ability to get his way in all situations (more specifically leaving the Eagles organization and moving to Dallas after his spat with McNabb). This is the man that pressured Parcel to leave the Cowboys because he wouldn’t take orders from one of the best coaches in professional football.

But, having ranted about Owens character flaws, let me back track a bit.

Owens, though I might not love the guy, does have point with this lawsuit if what he and his representatives are contesting is true. He is saying that the club, on Manhattan’s West Side, improperly used his name, likeness and initials, T.O., in 2006 and 2007 to promote its Friday Night Lights events and other parties. He also is saying that the club claimed he would be hosting these parties as well.

I, of course, feel that, if true, the nightclub erred, and T.O. is in the right by trying to end the improper usage of his image. I whole heartedly agree with his request to the judge in the case that the club be barred from using his name and likeness again in the future without his permission Even with my disdain for the way Owens carries himself, I would back his argument if not for one point: T.O. is asking for compensatory and punitive damages from the club.

Owens is expected to earn $5 million in salary and a $3 million bonus from the Dallas Cowboys for the 2007 season alone. That number doesn’t include any money T.O. makes on the side through endorsements or appearances, so what does he need money from this nightclub for?

And he isn’t asking for a small amount. He wants $100,000 in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages. I don’t know many nightclubs that can weather that kind of financial storm.

If Owens was really after rectifying a wrong he would ask for the use of his image to end and leave it at that. He wouldn’t try to ruin the livelihood of the club owner or owners and its employees by suing for what likely will amount to the end of the club’s existence.

It is through his exorbitant request in the form of monetary compensation that I have come to the conclusion that this is another notch in T.O.’s belt in grabbing and keeping the public’s attention. If I were the judge I would tell the bar to stop using Owens’ image and order T.O. to therapy to resolve some mommy issues and get some act right.

Brandon Glover is the sports editor of The Times. He can be reached at brandon.glover@demopolistimes.com.

 

[Dcz84]

TO is damned if he does and damned if he dont.

 

[BIGWAY]

So this article has a problem about the amount T.O. is suing for. What about the amount of profit this club got for using his image. What about the deception that took place with people thinking T.O. was hosting or would be at this club. Seems like this article forgot who the victim is.

 

[Alexander]

Owens is expected to earn $5 million in salary and a $3 million bonus from the Dallas Cowboys for the 2007 season alone. That number doesn’t include any money T.O. makes on the side through endorsements or appearances, so what does he need money from this nightclub for?

He is not the highest paid WR in the NFL. Nor is he the highest paid Cowboy.

So why is his salary thrown out there like it matters a single solitary bit?

Because his nitwit publicist made it a running joke?

He has a right to protect his name and avoid just anyone using it without permission. The nightclub did not "err" and just make a mistake. They blatantly and knowingly tried to deceive the public and in the same respect cause him some damage in the process. They should be held accountable. And if their lies cause them to be ruined, why should Owens be responsible? As for it being an "exorbitant" request, few judges would award the full amount as he still has to prove financial loss. Chances are strong that the nightclub will pay enough to hurt and enough to serve the purpose. If they are ruined, again, how is that Owens' fault? There is a punitive aspect to this lawsuit. Apparently this writer thinks just thinks being nice would stop them after two years, and there is nothing that suggests that they have not been asked and simply ignored the request, is there?

Were Roy Williams suing a nightclub it would be a non-story. This "editorial" that suggests that his lawsuit is just an excuse to push his face into the media spotlight is probably one of the more pathetic attempts at piling on as I have ever seen. Particularly by a "sports editor" from Demopolis, Alabama.

 

[Reality]

I'm not a T.O. fan but this author is a complete idiot that obviously has no clue how the business world operates.

If T.O. did not sue that company, then other companies could do the exact same thing and when he sued them, they could simply reference the fact that the other business had not asked for or received permission yet T.O. did not go after them.

It's like when someone famous sues a kid for selling his t-shirts .. the media makes the famous person out to be the bad guy but that person has no choice.

What will most likely happen here is that T.O. gets the publicity for saying, "I'm going to protect my trademarks in court if necessary", but behind closed doors he will probably accept a small fraction of the $600k as settlement. The publicity alone warns other people against doing it. This is VERY common in business.

-Reality

 

[RCowboyFan]

I'm not a T.O. fan but this author is a complete idiot that obviously has no clue how the business world operates.

If T.O. did not sue that company, then other companies could do the exact same thing and when he sued them, they could simply reference the fact that the other business had not asked for or received permission yet T.O. did not go after them.

It's like when someone famous sues a kid for selling his t-shirts .. the media makes the famous person out to be the bad guy but that person has no choice.

What will most likely happen here is that T.O. gets the publicity for saying, "I'm going to protect my trademarks in court if necessary", but behind closed doors will probably accept a fraction of the $600k as settlement. This is VERY common in business.

-Reality

Bingo, but then I guess its too much to expect a Mediot to understand basics of business.

These idiots should go to other countries where Famous Personalities etc. don't have that much ability to sue and how much they struggle to stop slander and misuse of their name, since Famous people cannot inflict any financial damage on the guys or business who use their name for free publicity and face no real repurcussions.

 

[BigDFan5]

a personality conflict with a coach (see Bill Parcel),

This is the man that pressured Parcel to leave the Cowboys because he wouldn’t take orders from one of the best coaches in professional football.

Once could be a mistake but misspelling it twice just shows me you have no idea what you are talking about.

Also he pressured Parcells to leave? Are you kidding me LOL

But his need to grab the spotlight by performing silly and over the top endzone dances seems like a childlike cry for attention…

Welcome to 2005, he didnt do any over the top dances the last 2 years, has this guy even watched the games?

Anyhow, imagine my surprise when I turned on Sports Center this morning and found that Owens has sued a Manhattan nightclub, the Avalon, for using his name and photo without his permission. At first glance I was surprised that the self promoter was upset that his likeness was being used to promote anything — I mean the man’s “official” Web site is reminiscent of a refrigerator of self promoting clippings with his scene from the MTV show ‘Punk’d’ and the controversial commercial for Monday Night Football with him and Nicole Sheridan — and then I began to think.

So you call TO a Self Promoter but are surprised that he is upset SOMEONE ELSE is promoting themselves using his name. Isnt the first rule of self promotion that you promote yourself?

Perhaps Owens’ uncharacteristic cry against having his face in the public is, in fact, a way to stick his face even further into the public.

His problem is not having his face in public, his problem is with a nightclub he is not affiliated with using his name to promote themselves and saying he will host a party that he will nopt be at. All without his permission

Owens, though I might not love the guy, does have point with this lawsuit if what he and his representatives are contesting is true. He is saying that the club, on Manhattan’s West Side, improperly used his name, likeness and initials, T.O., in 2006 and 2007 to promote its Friday Night Lights events and other parties. He also is saying that the club claimed he would be hosting these parties as well.

I, of course, feel that, if true, the nightclub erred, and T.O. is in the right by trying to end the improper usage of his image. I whole heartedly agree with his request to the judge in the case that the club be barred from using his name and likeness again in the future without his permission Even with my disdain for the way Owens carries himself, I would back his argument if not for one point: T.O. is asking for compensatory and punitive damages from the club.

So you agree with him? :laugh2:

Owens is expected to earn $5 million in salary and a $3 million bonus from the Dallas Cowboys for the 2007 season alone. That number doesn’t include any money T.O. makes on the side through endorsements or appearances, so what does he need money from this nightclub for?

What does his salary have to do with anything? The point is not the money it is called "punative" to punish and dissude others from doing the same thing in the future

And he isn’t asking for a small amount. He wants $100,000 in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages. I don’t know many nightclubs that can weather that kind of financial storm.

Sorry cupcake 600k IS a small amount in the world of lawsuits/

If Owens was really after rectifying a wrong he would ask for the use of his image to end and leave it at that. He wouldn’t try to ruin the livelihood of the club owner or owners and its employees by suing for what likely will amount to the end of the club’s existence.

Now here it is what you wanted to say all along TO IS THE DEBULLLLLLLL

The club is not the victim they used his image and name and made money off of it.

It is through his exorbitant request in the form of monetary compensation that I have come to the conclusion that this is another notch in T.O.’s belt in grabbing and keeping the public’s attention.

Look up the word exorbinant and then look at 90% of all lawsuits and get back to me. What is doubly stupid is that YOU AGREE he should sue them yet you say he is doing it for attention?? He would have got attention for it whether he asked for money or not you dolt

If I were the judge I would tell the bar to stop using Owens’ image and order T.O. to therapy to resolve some mommy issues and get some act right.

and if you had half a brain you would have re-read this POS article and asked yourself WTH was I thinking and hit the delete key, but no here we are having to read something that I wouldnt wipe my *** with if it were printed on CHarmin Ultra

 

[BrassCowboy]

T.O. is entirely within his rights to sue for this, and that is not alot of money when it comes to what the nightclub was doing....

This reporter is a plain idiot to just try to grasp for something like he is...

 

[AsthmaField]

TO is clearly an evil, malevolent force, sent from the underworld to ruin select nightclub owner's business.